Table 1. Infection-related quantities derived from a simple viral dynamics model that can improve the assessment of therapy against acute viral diseases[10].

Infection-related quantity	Interpretation	Practical use
Basic reproductive ratio (R0)	Mean number of cells infected by one primary infected cell. If R0>1 the infection will establish in the patient.	Determine if treatment can stop infection (bring R0 below 1)
Area under the viral load curve (AUC)	Total amount of virus shed over the time of infection; indicates infectiousness and severity of infection.	Determine if treatment reduces infectiousness and severity of infection
Initial viral growth rate	Rate at which virus multiplies in the early stage of the infection	Determine if (prophylactic) treatment reduces viral growth
Late viral decay rate	Rate at which virus is cleared towards the end of the infection	Determine if treatment increases rate of late viral decay
Peak viral load	Maximum viral load; indicates severity of infection	Determine by how much treatment reduces viral load peak
Time to peak viral load	Time required to reach peak viral load	N/A
Duration of infection	Time from onset of infection to full clearance; in practice measured as time from onset to viral load fall under detection limit	Distinguishes short-lived from chronic infections; determine by how much treatment shortens duration of infection
Generation time	Speed at which infection spreads in population	Determine if treatment slows down speed at which infection spreads
Fraction of dead cells at end of infection	Indicates tissue damage caused by infection; measure of severity of infection	Determine if treatment reduces tissue damage